Agapanthus

Agapanthus

These wonderful flowers are blooming machines and essentially the tropical equivalent of the daylily. A landscape staple in warm-winter regions, agapanthus is a low-maintenance perennial that produces colorful globes of blue or white trumpet-shape flowers in summer and fall. Agapanthus' evergreen strappy leaves add texture to beds, borders, and containers, too. With that combination of attributes, what more can you ask for?

Propagation

Rhizome Roots

Agapanthus grow and spread by fleshy rhizomes and are a type of storage root, meaning they can retain nutrients within their roots and be easily divided to create more plants.

Flowers & Foliage

Agapanthus foliage is rather unobtrusive and varies depending on the species. Many varieties have foliage that is small and grasslike. Others have larger, straplike foliage (much like daylilies). Several varieties of agapanthus are available with variegated foliage that is green with a cream or white stripe down the edge, in contrast with the plant's rich blue flowers.

Blossoms of the agapanthus appear in clusters at the tips of blooming stems. As these come up from the foliage, the blue blooms are held within a tight green bract to protect them from damage. As they mature, the bracts pull back to reveal many small blue buds. These then bloom in succession, starting at the bottom and working their way up.

The most common and popular flower color of agapanthus is a range of blues (most are light or medium blue with streaks of deeper blue down the petals). Agapanthus can also be found in white, and a few varieties have both white and blue in the same flowers. These typically have a blue tube that fades to a bright white as the petals open.

Tips for Deadheading & Dividing Plants

A good tip for proper care of potted agapanthus is to divide the plants on a regular basis. In general, agapanthus don't mind being snugly planted in a pot. However, they do appreciate being divided every few years to encourage new growth and increase blooms.

For agapanthus grown in the ground, it isn't necessary to divide the plant regularly. But do be sure to remove faded blossoms from the stem. This will encourage new growth and prevent the plant from wasting energy on seed production.

Seasonal Care & Maintenance

Many agapanthus are evergreen in tropical climates. The species that are not evergreen require a little more protection and warmth during the cool season. As the fall begins to come around, you can initiate their dormancy by withholding some water. The more tender evergreen varieties should be moved into a frost-free environment, like a greenhouse or even near a bright window in a home. Others can be left out and sparsely watered until spring comes along.

Agapanthus appreciate regular watering and don't like to dry out for too long. Make sure to be consistent with watering to prevent any stress from hindering future blooms, especially just after completing a bloom cycle. Additionally, since agapanthus are frequent bloomers, it's a good idea to give them a regular dose of fertilizer to keep the blooms going all season long.

White Agapanthus

Plant Agapanthus With:

The leaves look like chives, and if you walk by a planting of this South African native bulb and brush the foliage, you'll catch a whiff of garlic. The beautiful clusters of lavender-pink flowers have a sweet fragrance, similar to hyacinth perfume. They open up on tall stems from early summer until late fall. Noted for its drought tolerance, society garlic has become a staple in Southern California landscapes.

Make a bold statement in your garden with kangaroo paw. This unusual perennial comes from Australia and bears strappy green leaves and upright spikes of fuzzy flowers in radioactively brilliant colors. The blooms last a long time and make great cut flowers.

Add tropical flair to your garden or home with stunning bird of paradise flowers. Named for their resemblance to a flamboyant tropical bird, the long-lasting blooms appear in shades of orange and white. Outdoors, they are a favorite in tropical landscapes because the plants are practically carefree -- just give them a sunny spot with well-drained soil and you'll be rewarded with the exotic blooms. Indoors, they need a bright spot in order to produce flowers. Many gardeners take bird of paradise outside for the summer so the plants can soak up the sun. Re-pot or divide the plants every two to three years if you grow them in a container to prevent them from becoming root-bound.